Vancouver Whitecaps FC kick off 2012-13 Girls Elite program

August 30, 20121:57 PM PDT

Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the 2012-13 roster for the U-18 Girls Elite program. For the first time this season, the Girls Elite squad will play a full schedule of matches in the Metro Women’s Soccer League (MWSL) Premier division as a provisional member.

“We’re very excited to be kicking off a new season for the Girls Elite program,” said Jesse Symons, Whitecaps FC women’s and Girls Elite head coach. “This is a very talented group of young players, so we’re really looking forward to seeing each of them reach their full potential over the coming months.”

Whitecaps FC U-18 Girls Elite open their MWSL season on Sunday, September 9, against West Coast FC Kerrisdale at Montgomery West field. As a provisional member, all Whitecaps FC Girls Elite results will count in the MWSL Premier standings. However, the team will not be eligible for postseason play.

This past summer, the Girls Elite team finished as runner’s up in both the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) Premier Women’s regular season, and in the 2012 Challenge Cup.

Internationally, four girls from last year’s Girls Elite squad played on the Canadian U-17 women’s national team that qualified for next month’s 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan. Included were Elissa Neff, program graduate Kajal Parmar, and returning players Jasmin Dhanda and Carley Radomski. New player Summer Clarke was also on the team and was Canada’s leading scorer at the tournament with six goals.

Other players to have participated in camp with the Canadian U-17 women’s national team include Jasmine Mander and Aman Shergill. Additionally, returning Girls Elite player Emma Fletcher has been named to New Zealand’s U-17 Women’s World Cup squad.

BC Soccer programs – including BC Soccer Provincial teams, EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League clubs, and other BC Soccer member clubs – have contributed to the development of all players on this year’s roster.

“It is a very positive situation to see that opportunities are also available to those female high performance players identified through the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League,” said Michael Findlay, BC Soccer director of soccer development. “It is essential to the long term growth of women’s soccer in BC, and across Canada, to provide the required atmosphere for training and match play for these talented young players.”